The End Of A Great Experience ! U2's Return to Paris

U2 / Bono/ Adam /  Mark Peterson / U2TOURFANS

U2 / Bono/ Adam /  Mark Peterson / U2TOURFANS

Paris:  It's a rock show !  Its a rock show !  Monday night U2 returned for a second show to a sold out crowd and an expected HBO audience to snub the noses of terrorists that would have us fear for our way of life. Its the final show of a very long tour that for sure will have some interesting watermarks.

From the start this tour had several different issues come up. Last nights show was clearly an emotional evening for many. Bono said “Now there’s nothing left except to introduce you to some people whose lives will forever be a part of the city of Paris,”  The show came to an end with “One.” “These are our brothers, our fellow troubadours. They were robbed of their stage three weeks ago, and we would like to offer them ours tonight.”

Then he welcomed the Eagles of Death Metal onstage to lead a rousing rendition of “People Have the Power” by Patti Smith, who had joined U2 for the same song on Sunday  

People that's what a U2 show is about. Its about people connecting to people. This show was packed with a few extra guest. Those in attendance had been the lucky few invited on stage during the tour. Its was a special evening for so many. 

For many fans they noticed that U2's tightly calibrated show was a bit loose a bit free form and yet seemed in control. The band was fully engaged in a ROCK "N" ROLL show and would allow the spirit to be taken away.

The Edge / Bono / Mark Peterson / U2TOURFANS

The Edge / Bono / Mark Peterson / U2TOURFANS

From the business side. December dates seemed to fit right into the sweet spot for everyone. Dublin was to be the end with the band, crew and equipment to be scattered. Art Fogel with his hands full worked to figure how to make it possible. As Art said “Obviously we figured it out, and everybody was able to stay together to complete the shows. It was something the band really felt was important to do, as we all did, and it ended up working out well for the wrap of the tour for this year.”  Refund amounts was at a minimal with the tickets resold just as quickly.  Security was beefed up however Paris was just back to normal with a little bit more aware.

U2’s 2015 Innocence + Experience tour wraps as a critical and commercial success, though not one without its obstacles, including the death tour manager Dennis Sheehan early on in the tour. Through Nov. 3, the tour reported grosses totaling $133.6 million and attendance of 1,125,624 from 64 shows, according to Boxscore. “[Innocence + Experience] was a run that had some incredible challenges,” says Fogel, “but, in the end, it was a complete triumph, critically and every other way. They are truly a great band and have proven that once again.”


Bono Introduces New Song "The Streets Of Surrender"

Bono has dedicated a new song about freedom and love to the 130 people murdered by terrorists in Paris last month.

During an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Bono revealed he'd written a song for veteran Italian blues and rock singer Zucchero Fornaciari but had decided to reclaim and release it as The Streets of Surrender. 

Then, at length, Bono ran through the song's dramatic lyrics, which boil down to being a plug for all kinds of "freedom".

In the aftermath of the November 13, attacks most bands in the French capital pulled the plug on shows. 

But the U2 concerts were quickly rescheduled. The band appear at the 16,000-capacity AccorHotels Arena in the French capital on Sunday and again on Monday.

 

Be vigilant, but be unafraid ! As U2 heads back to Paris

New York City:  Bono was honored during the10-year anniversary of his humanitarian organizations, ONE and (RED), Bono, U2’s frontman, was characteristically hopeful about returning to Paris, stressing joy and defiance in the face of terror.

"Nothing will stop us from going back. Be vigilant, but be unafraid." U2 does not have a history of canceling shows and as Bono said "Its the Irish in us we just don't want to give into terrorism.

The head of Live Nation Arthur Fogel's face said it clearly to us that this was not going to happen. Now we needed to turn our focus to how can we help our fellow musicians "The Eagles of Death Metal"  As we focused on our departure from Paris we offered our plane and in the end we found what was needed most was some mobile devices to reconnect. Since the band lost their phones at the venue.

When asked about the new scheduled shows in Paris, Bono said that the show will go on as normal. Defining normal as the show was intended to be. Its business as usual as act of defiance.

Paris will be the end of this tour. The band had planned to end their tour at home in Dublin however its fitting that the boys head back to Paris with all the hope in the world for peace.

 

U2's Return to Paris

Paris, France:  Over the last few days new rumors have started to surface that the band may be returning to France after the Dublin shows.

However this has yet to be to confirmed. The French authorities will decide when U2 returns to Paris according to Bono's comments during earlier interview.  

The band is currently in Ireland playing a total of 6 shows will continue to finish out this leg of the tour and return to the studio to finish up the next album which is due to be released early 2016. 

Mean time Bono reflected back on the MSG shows; The feeling of Madison Square Garden was just unbelievable. ... The feeling was just "this is who we are; you can't change us,"

Bono said" 'You're not going to turn us into haters, or you're not going to turn us around in the way we go about our lives.' That was the feeling of Madison Square Garden back then, and I hope that will be the feeling at Bercy (the arena in Paris) when we get back there."

Mark Peterson our lead photographer captured the complete MSG residency and has created one of the best U2 concert photo collection available this tour for fans.   Your can purchase this limited edition book directly from the website and the book will be shipped worldwide.

U2 All Star Event Possible

U2 / Mark Peterson / U2Tourfans

U2 / Mark Peterson / U2Tourfans

Sources suggest that U2 have been in talks to lead an all star Paris concert event to benefit the victims of November 13th attacks.

The boys are in discussions to put together a concert to help the families of the victims.  Bono has been trying to work on getting other musicians lined up to support the event.  In the wake of most bands now canceling any euro tour this might be a challenge.

However if any one can pull it off Bono would be the one to get everyone engaged.  We will check back with our sources and update as information becomes available.

96,000 French Fans Love U2

U2 in concert is always a great show, but yesterday the group reached the summit. At the Stade de France, with 96,000 persons, the public has experienced a great moment in rock tour 360 ° Tour of way for the third time in two years in Paris.

The group has not disappointed and Bono who had back problems showed that he was in great shape.

Previously, Bono had gone alone to the Elysee Palace to meet with Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni. They discussed the summit “Millennium” which takes place this weekend in New York. Bono also discussed efforts against AIDS with the first lady of France. And he specifically requested help more African populations affected by this scourge.

Interpol opened the show and played for about an hour. Fans screaming BONO, BONO it was pretty clear that that Paris was ready to be rocked.  The setlist was pretty much the standard as the boys have settled into their show. Starting at 21:30 the intro pulls the fans from their seats that the crowd begins to swell as the Bono and the boys entered the stadium. The sound of the crowd was deafening, the walk in was pretty much a non event.  Beautiful day starts off the 2 hour show. Bono is in great shape, the boys Adam Larry and The Edge all ready to take the French down a musical road of bliss.


“I Will Follow”, Get on Your Boots and Magnificent have the audience ecstatic and yet you can sense that the boys may be playing for something they have yet to find. North Star and Mercy should be considered as testing songs. We have heard that we can expect a release 2010 (Late)

The band followed with a moment of atmosphere. Militant first with the classic Sunday Bloody Sunday when Bono and his band were introduced a few words of Get Up Stand Up by Bob Marley. And the public has not hesitated to use these words to heart, the little Irish recalling that France was the country of Human Rights and should not be forgotten. Then came the moment when the stadium became the largest nightclub in the world. Chaining City Of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, and a remix of I’ll Go Crazy If I Do not Go Crazy Tonight.

The screens came down full length and it surprised many, as they chained some of their classics; One, Where The Streets Have No Names and With or Without You.

Before leaving, Bono asks the Stade de France to make a vow that by 2015 no child in the world are born with the AIDS virus, especially in poor countries…

We will always have Paris – As the Boys move forward in during this massive tour



Paris Show Starts

The shift began in the early 1990s with the Zoo TV tour Tour: the group that had previously built his career on stage benefits minimalist emphasis on wireless communication device with the audience began to give his shows in pride of place to latest technology. U2 became one company very big shows where the music was just one element among others.

In this genre, no one is more massive than themselves and their scene today to 360 degrees - the very one who baited the beginning of the break between Johnny and Jean-Claude Camus, Johnny accepting someone evil make greater than he - is, in itself a good reason to come see them tonight. Obviously, there’s always music, but it involves so many mixers and sound engineers that it is difficult to distinguish between what is actually live, which is remixed and what has been preregistered. This would have shocked the past, present, it is accepted without problem by a public that understands that the Irish group makes the junction between the classic rock of yesteryear and the technological, the twenty-first century.